The very FIRST
thing that the Holy Spirit produces in regeneration, above all other things
whatsoever, above all other inventions or conceptions, above everything that the
human mind can think of, above everything that the human soul can hope for,
indeed, the very FIRST thing that the Holy Spirit produces in
regeneration is an OVERRIDING, ABSOLUTE, IRREVOCABLE, BILLOWING, INTENSELY
VIBRANT, CASCADING AVALANCHE OF PULSATING CONSUMING
LOVE for the MAN Christ Jesus.
Albeit, not for just for any old Jesus,
not for some Jesus who is a figment of the imagination, but rather, for the
Jesus of the BIBLE.
Indeed, the very FIRST thing that
the Holy Spirit produces in regeneration in EVERY SINGLE CASE WITHOUT
EXCEPTION is an OVERRIDING, ABSOLUTE, IRREVOCABLE, BILLOWING, INTENSELY
VIBRANT, CASCADING AVALANCHE OF PULSATING CONSUMING
LOVE for the MAN Christ Jesus, even the Jesus of the
Bible.
This OVERFLOWING, BILLOWING, PULSATING,
CONSUMING, CASCADING AVALANCHE OF LOVE
for the MAN Christ Jesus comes about INSTANTANEOUSLY as a result
of the SUDDEN view of Jesus Christ in his GLORY which has just
been SHOWERED upon the newborn by the Holy Spirit -- I say, which has
just been SHOWERED upon the newborn by the Holy Spirit -- for it is Jesus
Christ in his GLORY whom the Holy Spirit has just SHOWN to the
newborn believer in the POWER of the Holy Spirit, and that sight, that
revelation, that SUPERNATURAL VIEW of Jesus Christ in his GLORY by
the POWER of the Holy Spirit, causes the newborn to burst forth into an
OVERRIDING, OVERFLOWING, BILLOWING, CASCADING, INDESCRIBABLE LOVE for Jesus, even the Jesus of the
Bible, exactly as you read about in Revelation chapter five, for this
OVERRIDING, OVERFLOWING, BILLOWING, CASCADING, INDESCRIBABLE LOVE for Jesus FAR EXCEEDS
anything -- ANYTHING -- human. Indeed, this
LOVE for the MAN Christ Jesus, even the Jesus of the
Bible, is a SUPERNATURAL LOVE, is a LOVE that ONLY angels
and redeemed saints are capable of, and none other.
As ALL who have EXPERIENCED
regeneration KNOW, and KNOW INFALLIBLY, the newborn believer's
LOVE for Jesus Christ literally CANNOT be contained. Not even
REMOTELY, and this is all because of the FACT that the Holy Spirit
has just SHOWN to this newborn believer Jesus Christ in his GLORY
by the POWER of the Holy Spirit.
Consequently, Jonathan Edwards observed
what is true of ALL who are genuinely regenerated (there are NO
exceptions) --
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"Believing in Christ and spiritually seeing him are parallel... he that has had A CLEAR SIGHT OF THE SPIRITUAL GLORY OF CHRIST may say, I have not followed cunningly devised fables, but have been an eyewitness of his majesty, upon as good grounds as the Apostle Peter, when he had respect to the outward glory of Christ that he had seen." Jonathan Edwards, A Divine And Supernatural Light "THERE IS THE CHRIST WHOM ONLY THE SPIRIT CAN REVEAL... you may be convinced that He is the Son of God and still never find Him as the living Person He is. JESUS CHRIST MUST BE REVEALED BY THE HOLY GHOST... THE FINAL FLASH THAT INTRODUCES YOUR HEART TO JESUS MUST BE BY THAT ILLUMINATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT HIMSELF, OR IT ISN'T DONE AT ALL." A. W. Tozer, The Tozer Pulpit, Vol II |
And thus this is the very
NATURE of the Holy Spirit. The very NATURE of the Holy Spirit is
an OVERRIDING, ABSOLUTE, IRREVOCABLE, BILLOWING, INTENSELY VIBRANT, CASCADING
AVALANCHE OF PULSATING CONSUMING LOVE
for the MAN Christ Jesus, even the Jesus Christ of the Bible. There is
NOTHING more prevalent or profound or tangible or real that the Holy Spirit
infuses into ALL whom he regenerates than this OVERRIDING, ABSOLUTE,
IRREVOCABLE, BILLOWING, INTENSELY VIBRANT, CASCADING AVALANCHE OF PULSATING
CONSUMING LOVE for the MAN Christ
Jesus, even the Jesus Christ of the Bible.
Thus, any man who professes to be born
again and filled
with the Holy Spirit, and yet he hasn't EXPERIENCED an OVERRIDING,
ABSOLUTE, IRREVOCABLE, BILLOWING, INTENSELY VIBRANT, CASCADING AVALANCHE OF
PULSATING CONSUMING LOVE for the MAN
Christ Jesus is an imposter, and not only to others, but to himself, if he
thinks he's born again, for he is not even REMOTELY born again. Not even
close.
Show me a man who has
never literally ACHED inside because of his LOVE for Jesus Christ,
an OVERRIDING, ABSOLUTE, IRREVOCABLE, BILLOWING, INTENSELY VIBRANT, CASCADING
AVALANCHE OF PULSATING CONSUMING LOVE
for the MAN Christ Jesus, and I'll show you a man who is INFALLIBLY
unregenerate. INFALLIBLY.
If the above isn't YOUR
EXPERIENCE, if you've never SEEN Jesus Christ in his GLORY by
the POWER of the Holy Spirit and consequently have never EXPERIENCED
an OVERRIDING, ABSOLUTE, IRREVOCABLE, BILLOWING, INTENSELY VIBRANT,
CASCADING AVALANCHE OF PULSATING CONSUMING LOVE
for the MAN Christ Jesus as the RESULT THEREOF, you are utterly
delusional if you think you're born again. Indeed, if the above is not YOUR
EXPERIENCE to a TEE, you haven't even been convicted, much less
born again. Not even CLOSE.
Alas, multitudes upon multitudes who PROFESS Jesus Christ have believed in a DOCTRINAL Jesus, or a RELIGIOUS Jesus, or a LEGAL Jesus, or a SOCIAL Jesus, or a CO-BELLIGERENT Jesus, or an EASTERN MYSTIC Jesus, or a ZEN Jesus, or a Jesus like unto themselves, and any number of other FALSE Jesus', but they have never found the LIVING LORD JESUS, whose VOICE is HEARD -- not DISCERNED, or DISTINGUISHED, or PERCEIVED, ad nauseam, but whose VOICE IS HEARD by ALL whom he indwells, and whose GLORY is SHOWERED UPON them by the POWER of the Holy Spirit in the MOMENT when they are made to live. There are NO exceptions.
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"A sinner saved by grace will ALWAYS refer in his TESTIMONY to the MOMENT at which he EXPERIENCED new birth." Oswald Chambers, Bringing Sons Unto Glory "They are not Christ's that neither know how they are called, nor can give any proof that they are called... to some God speaketh in thunder, to others in a still small voice, but to all he speaketh." Thomas Manton, The Epistle Of Jude, v.1 |
Indeed, there are MULTITUDES who have believed in a DOCTRINAL Jesus or a RELIGIOUS Jesus but who have never found the LIVING LORD JESUS, who have never SEEN JESUS CHRIST IN HIS GLORY by the POWER of the Holy Spirit, and who will therefore not set FOOT in Jesus Christ's kingdom, not unless they fall on their faces and confess their unregeneracy, and beg Jesus Christ to reveal HIMSELF to them. Alas, there will be MULTITUDES who have professed Jesus and preached Jesus for forty or fifty years or more, and who have been missionaries all their lives, who will nevertheless not set FOOT in Jesus Christ's kingdom, and all their works are DEAD works, no matter how many may claim to have been blessed by their ministries. Wait and see.
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"That soul is dead to which the Spirit of Christ is not given in the work of regeneration; and all its works are dead works." John Flavel, The Method Of Grace "Never leave off watching, reading, praying, striving, till you EXPERIMENTALLY find Christ Jesus formed within you... Be frequent in self-examination morning and evening. Pray earnestly from your heart. WRESTLE WITH GOD, BEG HIM TO HASTEN THE NEW BIRTH." George Whitefield, Letters, XI |
Conversely, the
newborn believer -- the GENUINELY BORN AGAIN newborn believer -- doesn't
simply love the Bible, nor does he simply love the doctrines of the Bible, nor
does he simply love heaven, nor does he simply love eternal life, nor does he
love ANY OTHER THING except THE MAN CHRIST JESUS, even the
Jesus of the Bible. His love for Jesus, even the Jesus of the Bible, is so
FIERCE and so INTENSE and so UNCONTROLLABLE that he literally
ACHES inside -- I say, he literally ACHES inside -- because of his
OVERFLOWING, CASCADING, BILLOWING, INCANDESCENT LOVE for Jesus, even the Jesus of the
Bible, a LOVE that is SO
INCOMPARABLY INTENSE, that he could literally swoon, and in some cases even
has.
That is the very FIRST thing -- and
there are absolutely NO exceptions WHATSOEVER-- indeed, that is
the very FIRST thing that the Holy Spirit produces in EVERY ONE he
regenerates WITHOUT EXCEPTION -- I say, WITHOUT EXCEPTION -- nor
does ANY OTHER THING ever PRECEDE or OVERRIDE this FIRST
MARK OF REGENERATION, even the VERY FIRST MARK OF REGENERATION in
EVERY ONE who is TRULY REGENERATED, even EVERY ONE who has had
an OVERRIDING, ABSOLUTE, IRREVOCABLE, BILLOWING, INTENSELY VIBRANT, CASCADING
AVALANCHE OF PULSATING CONSUMING LOVE
for the MAN Christ Jesus, even the Jesus Christ of the Bible.
That's why ALL who are truly regenerate understand the supernatural admonition of the Lord to the church in Ephesus --
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"Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, BECAUSE THOU HAST LEFT THY FIRST LOVE." Revelation 2:4 |
Friend, if you
have never felt an INSATIABLE, INCONSOLABLE, UNENDING, FIERCE, UTTERLY
INTENSE AND INCANDESCENT, CASCADING, BILLOWING
LOVE for Jesus, a LOVE that far surpasses ALL
things human, a UNIQUE and OVERPOWERING LOVE for the MAN Christ
Jesus, even the Jesus of the Bible, indeed, if this is not your EXPERIENCE,
and one that you can remember as if it only happened MOMENTS ago, no
matter how long ago it may have actually occurred, an EXPERIENCE without
the SLIGHTEST variation or shadow of turning as described above, then you
may know INFALLIBLY that you have NEVER been born again. Not even
close.
I warn you, friend -- there will not be a
SINGLE exception to this on the day of judgment. I tell you, if the above
is not YOUR absolute, unalterable EXPERIENCE, you are more deluded
than all the devils combined if you think you're born again, for you don't have
the FIRST clue. Not the FIRST clue.
This is the difference between a man who
is genuinely born again and a man who has simply "become" a Christian in
some other way, or some other means, such as "embracing Christianity" or
"embracing Christian principles" or "making a decision for Christ",
or "accepting Christ as your Saviour", or growing up as a
"believer" or any of the legions of other false means of salvation, as
opposed to having the Holy Ghost OVERSHADOW you, and COME UPON YOU,
just as he did Mary. That is not metaphor, and if you think it is, you are
in for a very rude awakening come judgment day. Wait and see.
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This blessed Spirit, who once moved on the face of the great deep; who over-shadowed the blessed Virgin before that holy child was born of her; who descended in a bodily shape, like a dove, on our blessed Lord, when he came up out of the water at his baptism; and afterwards came down in fiery tongues on the heads of all his Apostles at the day of Pentecost: this is the Holy Ghost, who must move on the faces of our souls; this power of the Most High, must come upon us, and we must be baptized with his baptism and refining fire, before we can be stilled true members of Christ’s mystical body." George Whitefield, Marks Of Having Received The Holy Ghost |
Yes indeed, the
man who has become REGENERATE by the OVERSHADOWING of the Holy
Ghost, just as happened with Mary, and just as happens with ALL who are
truly born again, such a man is UTTERLY, IRREVOCABLY, HEAD-OVER-HEELS IN LOVE with the MAN Christ Jesus
because the Holy Spirit has just SHOWN that man IN THE SPIRIT the
very GLORY of Jesus Christ by the POWER of the Holy Spirit, and
thus, this man would forsake everything he has, including his own life, just to
lie at the feet of Jesus even for a MOMENT -- I say, even for a MOMENT
-- and to there BEHOLD the MAN Christ Jesus in his GLORY,
even the MAN Christ Jesus he has just SEEN in his GLORY by
the POWER of the Holy Spirit, and the MAN with whom he is now
HOPELESSLY in LOVE with forever more, the MAN he now has an
OVERRIDING, ABSOLUTE, IRREVOCABLE, BILLOWING, INTENSELY VIBRANT, CASCADING
AVALANCHE OF PULSATING CONSUMING LOVE
for, even the MAN Christ Jesus, even the Jesus Christ of the Bible.
There are absolutely NO exceptions
to this WHATSOEVER. None. If the above is not YOUR EXPERIENCE to a
TEE, you are still in your sins, and unless that changes, you will
NEVER enter Jesus Christ's kingdom.
Oh, you will see Jesus Christ in his GLORY, but by then it will be too late for you. By then, you will FLEE from that GLORY, even the GLORY of Jesus Christ, exactly as the Holy Spirit warns --
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"And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them." Revelation 20:11 |
And while you are FLEEING from that GLORY, even the GLORY of the MAN Christ Jesus, that VERY SAME GLORY will PROTECT ALL who are truly regenerate, while you are fleeing from it, that VERY SAME GLORY will PROTECT even ALL who while here in the flesh have had an OVERRIDING, ABSOLUTE, IRREVOCABLE, BILLOWING, INTENSELY VIBRANT, CASCADING AVALANCHE OF PULSATING CONSUMING LOVE for the MAN Christ Jesus, even the Jesus Christ of the Bible.
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"There is also to be a throne of judgment, on which God by Christ, at the great and notable day, shall sit to give the whole world, their last or final sentence, from which, no, not, not by any means, they shall never be released. This throne is made mention of in the New Testament, and is called by Christ THE THRONE OF HIS GLORY, and A GREAT WHITE THRONE. And his presence, when he sits upon this throne, will be so terrible, that nothing shall be able to abide it that is not reconciled to God by him before." John Bunyan, The Saints' Privilege And Profit |
Can you so testify? If not, you are beyond delusional if you think you're born again. Wait and see.
Would you be born again? GENUINELY born again?
Then take wise counsel -- pick up a Bible based on the Traditional Text -- in English, the ONLY VALID Bible based on the Traditional Text is the King James Bible -- and then read with SOLEMNITY, beginning in the Gospels preferably, and beg Jesus Christ to reveal himself to you, and give him no rest until he does, for if you read the TRUE written Word of God, you will find the Lord of Glory, even Jesus Christ, moving upon the face of the waters in its pages, just as he moved upon the face of the waters when he walked across the Sea of Galilee, and if you follow the advice just given, and if you persist, Jesus Christ HIMSELF will verily MANIFEST HIMSELF to you (for he HIMSELF promises to do this for those who truly heed this advice), just as he MANIFESTED HIMSELF to his disciples when he moved upon the face of the waters as he walked across the stormy sea some two thousand years ago, and just as he did with ME not too many years ago, and just as he has done with a FEW others from day to day since that time, in this very generation, and just as he will do for YOU if -- IF -- you heed my advice, and if -- IF -- you persist therein, for he who promised is FAITHFUL. John 14:21, Matthew 14:25-27
The Great Gamble
Regeneration And The Holy Spirit
Where Have All The Preachers Gone?